Mine support



J. BRAND MINE SUPPORT Oct. 20, 1953 Filed Jan. 51, 1950 Patented Oct. 20, 1953 MINE SUPPORT Josef Brand, Duisburg-Hamborn, Germany Application January 31, 1950, Serial No. 141,447 In Germany June 14, 1949 2 Claims.

This invention relates to supporting caps for use in underground mining.

In the course of modern development of the prop arrangement for underground mining, more and more caps of relatively light metal have been used during recent years. These light metal caps, like the steel caps formerly used, are connected with each other by means of locks and insure a stress-free articulation for the cap on the impact side and thus afford a prop-free working face as is required for modern exploitation methods involving complete mechanization. p

This invention concerns a mine installation with lightmetal caps and aims at improving vthe application range of such caps. In the types heretofore known, the range of practical usage of caps has been limited to special conditions in view of Vthe relative weakness of light metal and even special alloys as compared to steel as well as the higher costs of such light metals. As a result, a fracture or breakage of a light metal cap and its resulting uselessness has involved a comparatively heavy loss, aside from the dangers involved in itscuse.

An object is to overcome the diiculties above mentioned and to produce a simple and eiiicient cap of relatively light metal having the new and improved features of construction and ar rangement hereinafter described.

According to this invention, the above shortcomings in mining installations are overcome by a vdetermination of the strength properties, especially of the resistance coefficient of the cap in the X-axis, with respect to the strength properties of the prop supporting the cap in question. This is accomplished in such manner that the resistance coeflicient of the cap is greater than that of the prop so that as a result, `in vcase any excess stresses appear, the first to yield is the prop which represents the location of the least resistance, thereby avoiding fracturingpthe cap. This can be achieved by determining the load limit of the prop at a given cap as well as supplying a corresponding reenforcement for a given prop and, conveniently, by a combination of both methods involving the use of caps representing a relatively great Wx combined with a tolerable expenditure of material.

With the above in view and in accordance with this invention, a cap is produced which fulfills the above requirements in an entirely adequate manner. The basic profile or shape of such cap is that of an I. Its increased resistance coecient in the axis is achieved by a unique Aelements such as bolts and wedges.

.breakage at the lock parts.

arrangement of ribs which reenforce the vertical portion or web of the I. These ribs extend the entire length of the cap, extending from iange to flange in a zig-zag course and are arranged at an angle of approximately 45 with respect to the longitudinal axis of the cap. Preferably these ribs are arranged on opposite sides of the vertical web of the cap, the ribs on one side being in staggered relation to those on the other side by a distance corresponding to one diagonal. Further strengthening of the cap is accomplished by console-like, triangularly arranged stays or webs arranged between the web of the cap and the flanges at spaced intervals throughout the length of the cap, such Webs alternating at the upper and lower flanges and being staggered with respect to each other by intervals corresponding to a diagonal.

A cap is thus produced having exceedingly favorable resistance coefficient and of much lighterweightI in spite of the ribbed construction, than other special shapes heretofore used such as box profiles. Within the range of the basic idea underlying this invention as hereinbefore outlined, such cap can be used in connection with mass-produced props of standard design having normal load capacity and sinking resistance, due to the fact that its resistance coefiicient is greater than that of such props.

While the measures above described suiiice, in order to prevent the fracture of the cap and thus its total destruction, there remains, nevertheless, the liability of damage threatening locations Where the caps are subjected locally to a particularly great stress.

These caps `are provided as in the case of the standard steel caps, with complementary parts of locks of two adjoining caps for connecting them by means of an articulated bolt. By means of intermediary elements such as wedges, etc., this connection bears, without buckling, against the surfaces or special attachments to the caps for the purpose of a stress-free articulation. Such connection results in a relatively great stress onxthe parts engaged `by the connecting This may result in danger especially when the stress-free articulated cap is exposed at the end to a greater suspension pressure. In caps of standard design, this stress may result in local damage and Consequently, an expensive cap would likewise be rendered useless.

Further, in accordance with this invention, such danger is avoided by protecting the especially stressed parts of the lock by a screw or shield of a material which is less expensive but has relatively high tensile properties such as sheet steel. These screens or shields absorb the stresses resulting from the connecting elements such as bolts and wedges and transmit them in a harmless fashion to the relatively light metal of the cap. Manifestly, in case of damage, the sheet steel screens or shields may be readily replaced.

For purposesof illustration but not of limitation, arienibodiment o'f the inventi'onfisshown on the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the basic concept of this invention is illustrated in connection with articulated caps. The caps are shown connected to each other by mearrsd'f an articulated bolt and the stress-free articulated cap is secured in positioncfuseby`awedge driven into place between the lockcpants-:of .adjacent caps. may be imposed on the supporting end. of the articulated cap arrangement at any desired angle' without liability of damage or fracture.

"Infthe drawings,

ilig'ure "-2 =isfa longitudinal"sectional `elevation V`showin-g ila pair of 'caps connected i-tcgether, l` the "rleftfhandcap Vconstituting absection on the line vvlA---B .if'figi1`re4 f1; 'and Figure 3 -is fa 'vertical' sectional Aview rsubstan- -t`iallyfon'ltlfieline G--D f Figure-1.

Referring "5to fthe fdravvings, Va cap Yfa `is shown 'crinecte'dr to a cap b. -A'bolt or pin-eis `inserted through registering lapertures yinthe fforked end oflthe reap and through an -opening-A c in the 'ca'p fa. Both-'fcaps-a =an`d` b-*are'f-shaped'inicross 'fsectio'nan'd Jare ireer'iforced *by -ribs. As shown particularly-"on Figurelfrib's g'are arranged in zig-zag fashion and-l :are i5integral "With and f project outwardly from the web-'orfstayijfromlfiange `lto sflange. In l addition,lfthe Ifshape is '-reeriforced bycon'sole-like triangular Webs-5h which fare -ar- In this structure, a pulling .stress "rangedlbetween the flange :and webff'thecap.

Th'e ribs "gare'arrangedonbothfsides ofithe web yZiff the cap and Eare staggered with respect to =each rotlfier-by a distance corresponding fto afdiagonal. HAsfa"\1es'ult, fthe' ribs 'g v'which ioppose'eah" other onioppositefsidesidf the web Lof-:the cap,fare`in i-cifdssingfrelation. Similarlyfthei consoles or'fwbs "hrarearrangedalternately attheupperandflower angesfof thefcapfand's'taggered `in-co'rresponding ,mannerlrelativetoeach? other on nboth Tsides ofthe fweb zofthelcap. Consequently i Whereverfan up- -pericen'sole forfwe'bih -exists on? onelsideof Itheweb -of `the:cap,adovver )',Web l orlconsolei'is "disposed 'o'n ethe other side.

The end of the cap a isprotectedfronr-ttheilock A:pin `"e by 2 means of -a `substantially Uis'h'aped -`'shieldorfscreenl z'A of' relatively toug'hf sheet metal suchfassteel. As indicated Latl-lathe Aendqoxtion offthe y'fc'apotisrecessed to receive' the `Ashield .so that l-the outer fsurface io'f the :sliil'd is -'lush aviththeadjacentportion of the capfa,`therebyto lobviateiany projecting 'edge' portions. Y?Ihe-,hield -zl'kmay *be f secured in place by any lmeans 'welle knovvnto those skilled "iin -this art. "The-'shield i us provided `with apertures to register with 1vthe itransverse aperture on the en'd fof fthefcapffa. l-'Ih-is Ury'arretri'gement is suchit that allllstresses emasired, the forked end portion d of the cap bmay `be similarly provided with a sheet steel shield.

to be understood that numerous changes in details of construction, arrangement, design andchoiceof materials may be effected without adeparting-fromztheraspirit of the invention espefxziallyiasrdefined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l'1. Acap for subsurface mining comprising an elongate beam of relatively light metal and of substantially I 4shapeincross section, ribsintegral with the Web ofesaid'ibeamfand -idsposediin 'zig-zag fas'hion 'throughout the length thereof, saidri'bs being-arrangedon each -sidefof the -Lweb -\v-ith1the1ribs on one side '1in-staggered relation withV respect 4"to, the ribs-v on vthe `other "side, 4'and 'integral consoleilike reenforcements of substan- Vtially triangular shapee'on'oppc's'ite @sides 4sof 'sa-id beam Yand'connected` fi-'espective'lyf'lto aw'ange/and lthe VIAweb of the-beam, -said-freeforcements'being spaced from cach other xafdi'stancef-edual--to `the length `of one :rib and ^so larrangedy that =a-1reen forcement on the upper portion of one side-ofthe Abeam faces a reenforcementf on fthe lower portion ofthe other #side of thebeam.

l2. A cap 'for subsurface' mining 'comprisingfan `elongate beam of relatively liglitvmetband-'o'f l'substantially `I shape fnrfcross Lsection, ribs initegral avith the Web-f 4'said rbeam and disposed :in Zig-zag fashion 'throughoutftheleng'th fthereo'f. Isaid ribs ibei-ngfarrangedon each sideo'f theeweb AWith theribs 1i on 'f one vside inglstaggere'd v'relation -Withfrespect to the ribs-on the other iside, Land lintegral console-lke-ireerforcenrents of Lsubstantially triangular shapeonioppositesidesfof said beam and connected respectively' to a'ilange and 'theiweb of Sthebeam, =said reenforcemen'tei-being spaced from *each other a fdistance lequal 'to .the length-:of onelrib :and-so A"arranged ithat a reenforcement on the r-upperlpor'tionf ofonefside-fofthe 'beam facesza reenfo'rcement onthe lower-portion -"of the'iother :side 1 `o'f fthebeam :and lthe kposition .cf-adjacent pairs fof reenforcerrients -is reversed.

JJGSEF'BRAN" D.

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